Purpose.

Six years ago I was sitting in a nail salon getting a pedicure. The town I lived in was small, everyone knows everyone. The salon was empty aside from two employees, my daughter who was five at the time, a woman I had known my whole life getting her nails done and myself. I remember looking over at my girl and laughing. She was mimicking a youtube workout video on her tablet and what was supposed to be a graceful stretch looked like the most uncomfortable pretzel twist she could possibly get herself into. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath thinking how grateful I was for that moment. At this point in my life I was a full time college student and working part time coaching kids at a recreation center. I lived in a house filled with roommates  and had maybe a hundred dollars in my account after bills, gas and food. I was divorced. I had been a single mom for about two years and had felt like I failed at just about everything I was supposed to be good at up until this point. This pedicure was earned and it felt good to be able to afford it. I felt like, for a moment, I could relax. 

The woman getting her nails done stood up to pay and waved as she walked out of the building but not even a minute later she walked back in and made her way over to my pedicure chair. She looked at me and smiled and said, “I have a gift and I can see in the spirit, if you’d allow me I’d like to tell you what I see.” This was so odd to me because, again, I have known this woman my whole life. She didn’t walk up saying, “Hey how are you Ariel?” or the normal small talk when you see someone you know. She just straight up did her own version of, “hey I can see something supernatural on you can I share?” I said yes and she then proceeded to tell me what she saw. She felt called to tell me that some day I was going to wake up to multiple spiritual gifts that would help a large number of people. She said she knew hearing this now wouldn’t make much sense but it will one day. I didn’t understand at the time but she had a gift of her own and in obedience to God, she shared that with me. That day was a day when God used another person to prepare me for my future. I’m forever grateful for that moment. 

Here I am 6 years later and let me tell ya, she was not kidding. That interaction was the first time I had ever heard of spiritual gifts. Had she not walked up to me that day, I would have lost my mind completely when they started to drop in. It didn’t feel as scary as it would had I not been told. I truly believe that all things happen for a reason now and if you find yourself here reading this, I invite you to follow along as I share with you how I came back into union with myself, unlocked my gifts and walked through the valley of the shadow of death. If you take nothing else from this platform, take these three things– burn them in your brain as best you can, repeat them every time you feel out of place–  “I am exactly where I am supposed to be”,  “I am never alone”,  and “God loves the misfits”. I can’t make anyone see what they aren’t meant to see, but if you resonate with my energy, you are more than your circumstances, you are an overcomer and there will come a day where you will see that life is magical. You have to experience the darkness so you can discover your light. Jesus is the light of the world and he is inside of you. You have a purpose and it’s up to you to find it. I hope this helps.

Romans 1:11 For I long to visit you so I can bring you some spiritual gifts that will help you grow strong in the Lord. 

Romans 8:28 All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.

Until next time.

Xoxo, Ari